Round-the-Clock Purple and Gold

Lakers to unveil Jerry West statue during NBA All-Star weekend

The Lakers plan to add a statue of West outside Staples Center and unveil it during NBA All-Star weekend Feb. 18-20, Lakers spokesman John Black said.

This will mark the third Lakers statue outside Staples Center, which also includes Magic Johnson and Chick Hearn. Staples Center also features statues depicting hockey player Wayne Gretzky and boxer Oscar De La Hoya. Johnson's statue was dedicated during the NBA All-Star game in Los Angeles in 2004, while Hearn's statue was unveiled last season.

Known as "Mr. Clutch" during his playing career with the Lakers from 1960-1974, West led the Lakers to an NBA championship in 1972, became a 14-time All-Star, 10-time All-NBA team member and won the 1969 Finals MVP, though the Lakers lost that series to the Celtics. He also retired as the Lakers' all-time leading scorer with 25,192 points before Kobe Bryant eclipsed that mark last season.

West's standing within the Lakers go beyond his accomplishments as a player. He worked in the front office, including head coaching and scouting positions before assuming the General Manager role in the 1982-1983 season. That led to seven championships and an NBA executive of the year honor in 1995.